Tibetan Dawn

Tibetan Dawn is a small family run business nestling in the South Wales valleys, just outside Newport. It was formed in February 2005 to promote Tibetan artists, Tibetan culture and handicrafts in the UK. Tibetan Dawn is run by husband and wife team Meryl and Lobsang Tsering.

Also available on the road!

We also have a handicraft stall which we run throughout the summer months. It has been warmly welcomed at festivals in England and Wales. We hope to continue our newfound success over the coming year with our brand new webshop.

Our stock

We carry stock of both Tibetan and Indian crafted goods. Tibetan refugees living and working in India have made many of our items. We have been busy touring India carefully choosing our goods. Some are handmade purchased directly from producers of small workshops, while others items have been purchased via wholesale or factory manufacturers. We have always paid a fair price for our collection.

Our biggest challenge was to place an order for our own brand of “Tibetan Dawn” T-shirts depicting Tibetan art. Lobsang jetted off to India in search of a factory, which could make and print clothing to export quality. He spent two months searching and negotiating the contract with an Indian factory, also making sure that there was no child labour and reasonable working conditions within the enterprise.

Artists

We have collaborated with two artists and commissioned both original paintings to sell on behalf of the artists and artwork designs for printing on our own brand of T-shirts. It’s been a huge step and commitment for us.

The artist’s do not have luxury studios to work within where they can create their works of art. There are no easels, lights and comfy chairs, just artists sitting on the floor using canvases stretched on makeshift frames. The first Tibetan artists that we are promoting are Rigzin Namgyal and Chimetashi.

Rigzin Namgyal has had a love of art since a child. In April 1995 he became a student Thangka artist under his teacher Gyen Ngawangla. Every afternoon he would paint under his supervision at Mindroling Monastery.

He has continued his career in painting and is now a master Thangka painter. He runs his own studio workshop working with four junior artists and currently has five students. Rigzin has an excellent reputation for the quality of his artwork and has had commissions for Thangka’s worldwide, including the USA, Mexico, UK and Taiwan.

Chimetashi is a young Tibetan artist living in India. In 1983 he was born into a Buddhist family of refugees, who were based in a Tibetan settlement in Southern India. He is one of five children and has two brothers and two sisters. Chimetashi discovered his love of art whilst attending the Tibetan SOS School. His teacher encouraged him to continue his painting in a school in Mussoorie. Chimetashi is now living and working in his home village.

Our models

We are also grateful to our two models for their unpaid efforts and time so that we could display our T-shirt collection on the website. Thank you.

See us in 2008

We are looking forward trading again at Festivals and Markets. You will find our handicraft stall at the following venues this year.

19-20th April Cardiff Natural Health show, Cardiff University, Students Union Block, Senghennydd Rd, Cardiff. website.

9-11th May Van West, Haynes Motor Museum, Yeovil. BA22 7LH. Website

24-25th May Paradise Gardens 2008, Victoria Park, London E9. website

6-8th June Volksfest, North Somerset Show Ground, Wraxall, Nr Bristol, BS48 1NE. website

4th-6th July Saul Canal Festival, Saul Junction, Near Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire, GL2 7LA. website

12th July Lewisham Peoples Day, Mountsfield Park, Stainton Road, Catford, London, SE6 1AN. website

12th-13th July Croydon Summer Festival, Lloyd Park, Coombe Rd, Croydon, CR0 5RD. website

26-27th July Sea Swansea Festival, National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Rd, Swansea. website

1-3rd August Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol website

8th-10th August HSBC Brecon Jazz Festival, Captain’s Walkway, Brecon, Powys. website

23rd August Swansea MAS Carnival , National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Rd, Swansea. website

24th August City Streets Summer Beats, Nation Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Rd, Swansea. website

If you would like us to book into your event, please contact us with details.

Check out our blog page by clicking here